our very devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _20th July 1839._

The Queen anxiously hopes Lord Melbourne has slept well, and has not
suffered from last night. It was very wrong of him not to wish the
Queen good-night, as she expected he would in so small a party, for
she _saw_ that he did _not_ go away immediately after supper. When
did he get home? It was great pleasure to the Queen that he came last
night. We kept up the dancing till past three, and the Queen was much
amused, and slept soundly from four till half-past ten, which she is
ashamed of. She is quite well, but has got a good deal of cold in her
head; she hopes to see Lord Melbourne at two.

[Pageheading: THE DUCHESS OF BRAGANZA]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th July 1839._

The Queen has seen the Duchess of Braganza,[47] who, though a good
deal changed, is still handsome, and very amiable; she seemed so glad,
too, to see the Queen again. The child[48] is grown a dear fine girl.
Lord Palmerston thought it right that I should ask her to dinner also
on Saturday and take her to the Opera; and on Sunday, as she came on
purpose to see the Queen, and goes on Monday.

On Sunday (besides Lord Melbourne) the Queen proposes asking
Palmerston, Normanby, Uxbridge, and Surrey, and no one else except the
Duchess's suite. The Queen hopes Lord Melbourne will approve of this.
He will not forget to let the Queen know how the debate is going on,
at about nine or ten, as she will be curious to know. She trusts he
will not suffer from the fatigue of to-night.

[Footnote 47: The step-mother of Donna Maria. Pedro I. assumed
the title of Duke of Braganza after his abdication.]

[Footnote 48: Probably the princess known as "Chica,"
afterwards Princesse de Joinville.]

[Pageheading: SYRIAN AFFAIRS]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

ST CLOUD, _26th July 1839._

... Everything is pretty quiet, and the _grace accordee a Barbes_[49]
has put down the rage against the King personally, at least for some
little time. The affairs of the Orient interest a good deal. I think
that it is better the Porte should be on a favourable footing with
Mehemet Ali than if that gentleman had pushed on in arms, as it will
put the _casus foederis_ out of the question, and the Turks will not
call in the assistance of the Russians. Whoever pushed the late S